News Release

Recovery Act Assistance Will Help Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA will be sending $84.8 million to state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

"President Obama is committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion and this funding will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in these rural communities," Vilsack said.

Other major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat.

"For example," Vilsack said "the Neshaminy Creek Watershed (Pennsylvania) project funding will be used to acquire, elevate and flood-protect approximately 80 homes and businesses in the 100-year flood plain, while the Beaver Creek (Colorado) Watershed project will develop 45 land-treatment contracts with family-owned farms, resulting in significant water quality improvement, water conservation, and enhancement of scarce wildlife habitat."

ARRA funds will be used to develop conservation measures such as planting vegetative cover and creating shallow water ponds to improve wildlife habitat, improving irrigation efficiency and conserving water, installing filter strips and soil erosion control practices, flood proofing homes and enhancing stream corridor and floodplain function, and constructing small flood control dams.

USDA is directing technical and financial assistance available through this funding toward projects that are ready to begin and that will relieve stress on local economies through the creation of over 1,400 jobs.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has worked closely with sponsors to identify projects that are ready for immediate implementation.

Location

Project

Funding

Arkansas

Upper Petit Jean

134,000

California

Stemple Creek

275,000

California

Lower Silver Creek

10,000,000

Colorado

Beaver Creek

2,500,000

Colorado

Highline Breaks

629,000

Colorado

Holbrook Lake Ditch

185,000

Colorado

Limestone-Graveyard Creeks

187,000

Colorado

Trinidad Lake North

79,000

Iowa

Mill Creek

57,500

Iowa

Hacklebarney

161,000

Iowa

East Fork of The Grand River

1,258,250

Idaho

Southern Washington County Water Quality Project

430,000

Kansas

Big Caney

214,000

Kentucky

Fox Creek

4,092,880

Louisiana

Bayou Duralde-Lower Nezpique

1,270,000

Louisiana

Red Bayou

3,200,000

Minnesota

Whitewater River

299,000

Minnesota

Kanaranzi-Little Rock

245,000

Missouri

East Yellow Creek

420,000

Missouri

West Fork of Big Creek

950,000

Missouri

Upper Locust Creek

1,730,000

Missouri

Big Creek-Hurricane Creek

950,000

Missouri

East Fork of Big Creek

850,000

Montana

Buffalo Rapids

281,000

Nebraska

Blackwood Creek

2,000,000

New York

New York City Watersheds

1,000,000

North Carolina

Swan Quarter Watershed

5,280,858

Oklahoma

Upper Red Rock Creek

60,000

Oklahoma

Stillwater Creek

40,000

Oklahoma

Turkey Creek

1,670,000

Pennsylvania

Tulpehocken Creek

1,375,000

Pennsylvania

Red-White Clay Creeks

430,000

Pennsylvania

Brandywine Creek

20,000

Pennsylvania

Neshaminy Creek

10,075,000

Northern Marianas (Saipan)

Kagman

4,150,000

Texas

Elm Creek (Cen-Tex)

746,000

Texas

Caney Creek

399,000

Texas

Trinity - Big Sandy Creek

369,000

Texas

Lower Brushy Creek

2,502,000

Texas

Plum Creek

1,335,000

Texas

Trinity - Little Elm & Laterals

1,508,000

Texas

Trinity - Chambers Creek

8,558,000

Texas

Trinity - East Fork Above Lavon

666,000

Texas

Trinity - Hickory Creek

658,000

Texas

Trinity - Pilot Grove

744,000

Texas

Trinity - Richland Creek

3,125,000

Texas

Upper Brushy Creek

930,000

Virginia

Little Reed Island Creek

225,300

Virginia

Chestnut Creek

367,700

Virginia

North Fork Powell River

380,000

Washington

Omak Creek

625,000

West Virginia

Upper Deckers Creek

2,100,000

West Virginia

Upper Tygart

3,025,000

Total

84,761,488

Funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is part of the Obama Administration's plans to modernize the nation's infrastructure, jumpstart the economy and create jobs. For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit www.recovery.gov.